Google is a close ally of the President and he's not above plugging it's social network

President Obama is perhaps the most technology-savvy president to date. While the POTUS (President of the United States) has made plenty of controversial stands [1][2][3] over his presidency, he has made some changes that should be unilaterally welcomed and commended, such as the We the People White House webpage [press release], which allows citizens to create petitions directed at the White House and Congress.

Today at 5:30 President Obama will host a "hangout" answering questions he's received in the past couple weeks on his YouTube channel.

A Google+ Hangout [Image Source: webbROI]

The President promises to answer the top rated questions, but the chat will likely provoke controversy, if previous chats on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are any indication. In those prior sessions some accused the President of dodging the highest rated questions -- many of which were admittedly "tough" -- instead cherry-picking "layup" questions that were easy to answer and/or made him look good.

The President's support of Google also raises some eyebrows given Google's clever use of the "Double Irish" and "Dutch Sandwich" (legal) tax evasion strategies, funneling money through Ireland, the Netherlands and Bermuda, courtesy of federal loopholes, to avoid paying federal income taxes on its profits. These strategies reportedly saved Google $1B USD in 2011 and cut the company's effective tax rate to 18.8 percent, far less than the standard 35-40 most small businesses pay on earnings.

This follows in the line of other key corporate friends of the President, such as General Electric Comp. (GE) -- a more extreme tax evader who made $14B USD in profit in 2010, yet received a tax refund of $3.2B USD back from the federal government. Obama appointed GE CEO Jeff Immelt to lead his jobs board -- which helps decide federal tax policy -- also in 2010.

Obama also appointed John Doerr and (Intel Corp. (INTC) CEO) Paul Otellini to his jobs council -- both of whom are board members at Google.

Productive Integration. That's the key here. It is one thing to come to America, work odd jobs and send your money back overseas. It is another to come to America, start a business, employ others (even if it isn't completely kosher), become involved in your community etc. and raise a family. That's the difference I'm talking about for simplicity's sake.

Have you ever look at how hard it is to get a visa if you were a Mexican?

To become a naturalized citizen, you must first live in America for five years under a visa. That is, unless you join the Military, get married or a few other things. The majority of people are going to have to get a visa and work.

It is _hard_ to get that visa. Read the page, read the steps. It is neigh impossible for the average Mexican to get one--assuming they can comprehend the requirements due to their lack of education.

From all I read and see, Mexico is a broken country. A desert of lost dreams, empty hope and burned out solidarity. I know this is not completely true as I know some successful Mexicans in their own country but this is easily an exception to the rule. The wealth gap in America is broad but it is nothing like it is there.

So, what we have is a mass exodus of people looking for hope. Many of these people will not fall within the "productive integration" category, but some will. Those that do I think should be given a chance to make amends for their less than legal means of entry to continue providing what they have for years to our great country.

quote: Have you ever look at how hard it is to get a visa if you were a Mexican?

It has to be. Blastman you write as if we can sustain unlimited numbers of immigrants. Or just an unlimited population in general. We can't. Some would argue we've already reached the tipping point on immigrant numbers. With tens of millions of people living here, using our services, while not paying taxes and sending a lot of their money back to Mexico to their families. This hurts our economy and isn't fair to the legal citizens of this nation.

You aren't arguing for immigration reform. You're flat out talking about a wide open border.